December 1, 2011 

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The Client Community Center hosts regular activities and events every week (listed below).  Community Center special events and other activities can now be found on the main D.A.P. website.  Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events. 

Monday, Wednesday, & Friday  12:00 Noon - 12:45 PM,

Community Center Presents - GUIDED MEDITATION & AFFIRMATIONS

New sessions starting using guided imagery and affirmations as narrated by Belleruth Naparstek. You'll gain deeper relaxation, healing and wellness. Just show up to the Meditation Room on designated days and time. Lower anxiety, stress, and depression.

Thursday, December 1

Every Thursday, 1:00 PM Movie & Pizza 

Community Center Presents - LETS GO TO THE MOVIES 

Thursday, December 8

Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause 

Tim Allen is back in the big red suit for more adventure and laughs in Disney's hilarious family comedy. Get ready for a thrilling sleigh ride as the reluctant Santa. Get out of the house for a flick!

Ongoing Client Community Center activities include: 

Join us on Thursday,  December 22 at 3:00 PM in the D.A.P. Community Center for a presentation of "Our Story" directed by Skip Warren and written by the members of the Creative Writing Group at Desert AIDS Project.

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World AIDS Day at D.A.P. - Help us remember 30 years of AIDS 

 

 

Please join us on Thursday, December 1 to commemorate World AIDS Day. 

 

 

 

 

Schedule of Events:

30 Years of AIDS Memorial Wall
Individuals are encouraged to bring photos or leave messages for those who have passed from HIV/AIDS. The Memorial Wall will be featured in our lobby for the month of December.

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For those of you in Imperial County there will also be a World AIDS Day/Family Expo from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Sonic Drive-In, located at 2299 N. Imperial Ave, El Centro, CA  92243-1335.  Activities will include a 50/50 Raffle, pictures with Santa, Christmas shopping, live music/DJ, dancing, youth activities, live performances, health resources,  Zumba and much more! For more information contact Lalita at 760.344.6471, ext. 258 or email: eulaliah@cdsdp.org. (jl)

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Join us on Friday, December 2 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM for D.A.P.'s Annual Holiday Craft Fair presented by Stitch N time and Quilting by Helen.  Come browse the vast selection of quilts, handmade holiday ornaments, jewelry, quilted and crocheted items, homemade baked goods, hot apple cider and more. Come get a head-start on your holiday shopping! (jl)

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One of the entertainment highlights of the holiday season returns to Palm Springs on Wednesday, December 7th, at 7:00 PM as Producers Scott Nevins and Mark Jones present SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert to benefit Desert AIDS Project at the Annenberg Theater inside the Palm Springs Art Museum. An all-star cast of performers from the worlds of Television, Broadway and the music industry gather together to help get you into the spirit of the season as they perform your favorite Holiday songs at this one night only extravaganza!  Follow this link for more information. (jl) 

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Health officials said they are recommending that any person living with HIV be offered AIDS drugs as soon as they are diagnosed with the virus, an aggressive move that has been shown to prolong life and stem the spread of the disease. Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said recent studies have shown that the benefits of early treatment, combined with education and testing, appears to be a promising strategy for countering the epidemic. More than 110,000 people in New York City are infected with HIV, more than in any other U.S. city and about 75 percent of all cases in the state. San Francisco, which had more than 18,000 people living with HIV, is believed to be the only other major city to have made a similar recommendation in 2010. City health officials said they anticipated that the cost for expanding the use of AIDS drugs would be covered by private insurance or by the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The health officials said they expect the benefits over the long term would far outweigh the initial costs because there would be fewer hospitalizations and new HIV cases. (rv)

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Adding Telaprevir (Incivek) shows better treatment response in co-infected individuals

People coinfected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who added 12 weeks of telaprevir (Incivek) to pegylated interferon and ribavirin (P/R) had better 24-week on-treatment response rates than those who used pegylated interferon and ribavirin alone.

These data were presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting for the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), held recently in San Francisco. Studies show that through the first 12 weeks of therapy, people taking telaprevir plus P/R were far more likely to achieve undetectable HCV levels than people taking P/R alone, regardless of whether they were taking HIV ARV treatment. This generally held true through 24 weeks, though the difference in HCV suppression between those taking telaprevir plus P/R to those taking P/R alone diminished somewhat, especially in those who also took ARVs. The trial is ongoing, and further data from the study are expected in 2012. Talk to your medical provider if you are interested in more information. (rv)

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30 years of AIDS

The CDC recently granted 34 community organizations $55 million to be spent over the next five years to increase HIV prevention services for those most at risk, including young men of color, transgender youth, and their partners.Another important goal is to put an end to the discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS, who are disproportionately transgender women, gay and bisexual men, and people of color. Results from The Task Force National Transgender Discrimination Survey showed that transgender individuals have a rate of HIV/AIDS that is more than FOUR times higher than the general population. And, tragically, the survey also found that 1 in 4 transgender African Americans live with HIV/AIDS. Discrimination and lack of education is the reason for this tragedy. You can help to end discrimination against people living with HIV by urging your member of Congress to co-sponsor the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act which addresses the unfair use of criminal and civil laws against those who test positive for HIV. Today, 34 states have laws that criminalize transmission of HIV. It's time to repeal these harmful laws that demonize people with HIV. Call 202-684-2468 today and tell your representative that this bill needs their support. As we honor and stand with those who have dedicated their lives to the fight against HIV/AIDS, and mourn everyone we have lost in the past three decades, the question is what are YOU doing toward ending HIV/AIDS and discrimination? This World AIDS Day, join  in supporting the REPEAL HIV Discrimination Act to reduce the stigma and fear of living with HIV. Take action now - call 202.684.2468. (rv)

Animals in winter

• Migration is a common effect of winter upon animals, notably birds. However, the majority of birds do not migrate, for example the cardinal and European Robin. Some butterflies also migrate seasonally.
• Hibernation is a state of reduced metabolic activity during the winter. Some animals "sleep" during winter and only come out when the warm weather returns; e.g., gophers, frogs, snakes, and bats.
• Some animals store food for the winter and live on it instead of hibernating completely. This is the case for squirrels, beavers, skunks, badgers, and raccoons.
• Resistance is observed when an animal endures winter but changes in ways such as color and musculature. The color of the fur or plumage changes to white (in order to be confused with snow) and thus retains its cryptic coloration year-round. Examples are the Rock Ptarmigan, arctic fox, weasel, white-tailed jackrabbit, and mountain hare.
• Some fur-coated mammals grow a heavier coat during the winter; this improves the heat-retention qualities of the fur. The coat is then shed following the winter season to allow better cooling. The heavier coat in winter made it a favorite season for trappers, who sought more profitable skins.
• Snow also affects the ways animals behave; many take advantage of the insulating properties of snow by burrowing in it. Mice and voles typically live under the snow layer. (rv)

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To contact state and federal officials click on name:

President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack 
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
State Senator Juan Vargas
Assembly member Brian Nestande
Assembly member Manual Perez

Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN) presents published material, reprinted with permission, and neither endorses or opposes any material.  All information contained in this newsletter, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments is for informational purposes only.  It is often presented in summary or aggregate form.  It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional.  Always discuss treatment options with a physician who specializes in treating HIV.  Publication of the name or likeness of any individual in articles in this newsletter is not to be construed as any indication of the HIV status of such individual.  If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter, please notify us by using the email address below.

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